The border guard ship of 22460 project is designed by the Northern Design Bureau (St. Petersburg) and is intended to protect the state boundaries and territorial sea, as well as for counterterrorism and anti-piracy campaigns.
The ship is equipped with the most modern navigation and communication aids, has a helicopter onboard, and ship automation system.
In 2012, JSC Almaz Shipbuilding Company transferred to the Border Guard of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation two border boats of 12,200 project “Sobol”, serial numbers 213, 214, and continues to build the second serial ship of 22460 project, serial number 503, “Zhemchug”, according to the press-release of the shipbuilding company.
In the second reading, the Lower House of Parliament of the Russian Federation passed a bill defining the term of the water area of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) – “a water area adjacent to the northern coast of the Russian Federation, covering the internal seawaters, the territorial sea and the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation”. It is proposed to restrict the water area of the Northern Sea Route in the east – by the maritime demarcation line with the USA and the parallel of the Cape Dezhnev in the Bering Strait, in the west – by the meridian of the Cape of Desire to the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, by the eastern coastline of the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, western boundaries of the Matochkin, Kara Gates and Yugorski Shar Straits.
